State Releases High School Dropout, Graduation Rates

Audio

Aired 8/11/11

California’s high school dropout rate stands at just over 18 percent – with roughly three out of every four students graduating on time.

The stats answer the question - of all the students who entered California high schools in the fall of 2006, what percent graduated on time in spring 2010 and what percent dropped out? Answers: slightly more than 18 percent dropped out, and just under 75 percent graduated. Nearly all the remaining students are still in school.

Minorities continue to have the highest dropout rates, including 30 percent for African Americans and 23 percent for Hispanics. Asians had the lowest dropout rate - just under eight percent. The rate for whites is a bit under 12 percent.

The next logical question is, how do these stats compare to previous years. But the Department of Education warns against making that comparison because the state used a different method of calculation. Still, the Department does say the dropout rate improved a little bit from 2009 to 2010.

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